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That’s why we want to share with you some important tips you need to be aware of when it comes to keeping granite countertops in your home. We want you to get the most out of your granite countertops and help you increase its longevity, so follow these important maintenance tips .

Daily Maintenance

Everyday care will go a long way. Warm water, a little dish soap and a soft cloth should be used for everyday spills and dust. Also, if a spill does occur, blot it instead of wiping it because you could spread the spill to other areas of the countertop. And don’t forget to use a soft cloth to dry the area.

You always want to ensure your countertop is clean if you want to get long-term use from it. However, make sure you avoid any cleaning products that contain acid or abrasives, as these might cause discolorations. So vinegar, bleach, ammonia or other general-purpose cleaners are big no-no’s.

Avoid Prolonged Heat Exposure

If you’re cooking and need to remove a pot from the stove always be sure to place a cloth or mat down on the countertop in order to prevent the granite from damage due to heat exposure. Long-term exposure and extreme temperatures can seriously damage the texture causing cracks or discolorations and integrity of the stone, so avoid it if you can.

Heavy Duty Clean Once a Week

If you’ve been skipping daily cleaning then this step is especially necessary. Once a week use a heavy-duty stone degreaser to remove any grime, scum, or grease that may be stuck on your surfaces. Make sure you get the areas around your stove really good. Heavy-duty cleaners like this are concentrated and able to get deep down in the stone without damaging it.

Seal Your Granite Countertop

When choosing a sealant, be sure it is water and oil resistant. If it’s a good kind, this sealant should last anywhere from ten to fifteen years. Follow the instructions carefully to ensure you properly seal your countertop.

Avoid Standing on it

We know your light bulb went out and it’s too high to reach on your own, but in those cases pull out your stepladder and avoid standing on top of your beautiful granite countertop . Try and keep your little ones and pets off the countertop too. Standing or climbing on the countertop could crack and/or scratch the surface. This also applies to putting things like toolboxes and objects with hard surfaces on your granite.

With these important maintenance tips for granite countertops , you’ll be able to have a long-lasting, beautiful functioning kitchen counter for years to come.

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Nothing makes a kitchen look as beautiful or distinguished as granite countertops. They come in a number of different colors and styles, but they all serve to make a kitchen appear of the highest quality. Of course, part of owning granite countertops means worrying about their care and upkeep. Here are some easy tips you can use to ensure these beautiful countertops keep looking amazing for years to come.

Don’t Let Kids Play or Roughhouse on Them
This is really first and foremost. If you don’t allow any bad habits in your kitchen, your granite countertops will have a much easier time of surviving.

For example, don’t let kids sit or stand on them. Depending on their ages, this may be extremely tempting. Explain to them what it will do to their allowance (and, possibly, their college fund) if they should damage those beautiful countertops.

Unlike the laminate ones, granite countertops don’t have plywood backing and, though they’re very hard, they lack flexibility. Too much weight concentrated over one area is enough to cause a crack.

Always Use Coasters
Fortunately, if you forget to do this from time to time, it’s not the end of the world. Granite is much stronger than marble and doesn’t etch. Still, it’s a good habit and practicing it could someday prevent a harmful mistake.

Blot Spills Right Away
Spills are going to happen. It’s the kitchen, after all, and while you can keep children from climbing on your granite countertops, it’s unreasonable to attempt a ban on any spills from ever happening.

Cooking oils and acidic substances like coffee, soda, wine fruit juice and tomato sauce could potentially leave a stain if left sitting for too long. Make sure you blot them up immediately.

Use a Stone Cleaner
Don’t just buy any name brand cleaner from the department store and start spraying your granite countertops down. Instead, you need to use a natural stone cleaner that has been specially formulated for your granite countertops . Not only will it get rid of any messes, it will protect your sealer too.

That being said, if it’s just a quick cleanup, feel free to use hot water. Dish soap isn’t going to cause serious problems, but it shouldn’t be something you use repeatedly. The problem is that it builds up – even when you wash it off – and will eventually ruin your countertop’s luster.

Under no circumstances should you use ammonia, vinegar, orange or lemon cleaners. Bleach is off limits too.

Use a Sponge or Soft Cloth for Cleaning
Using the right type of cleaner is a great start, but we also recommend you pick a sponge or soft cloth for this use and this use only. Avoid using your sponge or cloth for cleaning other parts of the kitchen as you will risk putting the wrong types of chemicals on your countertops.

As you can see, this isn’t too challenging of a list to stick to, especially when the upshot is that you get beautiful granite countertops in exchange.

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There are other things to consider as well, which may be more or less important to you and your family. If you have an open floor plan, you may want to maintain one type of flooring throughout the kitchen and living space to avoid an unsightly transition in the middle of the floor. If you spend a lot of time cooking, you might want to choose a softer flooring option, which will be easier on your feet and joints. You might be going for a particular look that can really only be achieved with one particular type of flooring, in which case your decision will be relatively easy.

Some of the most popular flooring options for kitchens today include:

1. Hardwood floors. They are extremely durable and have been known to last for generations. They are easy to clean; messes can be wiped up with a damp cloth or towel. Despite the name, this is one of the softer flooring options. They are also a great option for those with an open floor plan because they look equally good in a living area. Some people worry about damage from water or moisture, but today’s pre-finished hardwoods and engineered hardwoods actually stand up very well to water and changes in humidity.
2. Vinyl floors. They top the list for durability and softness. They are also very budget friendly. Dirt and moisture can get under the flooring if you have any unsealed seams so use sheet vinyl instead of tiles and ensure that any seams remain well-sealed.
3. Porcelain tiles are more durable than ceramic tiles. So if you like the look of tile for your kitchen and want the most durable option, then this is it. Porcelain tiles are extremely easy to clean. Grout lines, however, will likely need to be resealed periodically, which may be more maintenance than you would like. Keep in mind that tile floors are hard, so if you spend a lot of time standing in your kitchen, consider whether you will be happy with the end result.
4. Stone floors can be expensive and heavy, but the finished product can be absolutely decadent in the right kitchen. If you are set on the look of stone, they have the added benefits of being extremely durable and easy to clean.
5. Cork flooring is very soft, water-resistant and naturally slip-resistant due to its texture. It is also sustainably harvested, making it an eco-friendly flooring choice. The downside to cork is that its softness means it is less durable than the harder flooring options. It needs to be resealed periodically to protect it from scratches and wear.

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Because fall is the harvest season, most fall decorating tends to reflect the season by incorporating warm fall colours (particularly yellows, browns, oranges and reds) and harvest themes. Pumpkins, apples, nuts, cut branches with colourful leaves or berries and corn stalks all feature heavily in fall décor. Don’t be afraid to bring the outdoors in by decorating with found objects or the bounty from your own garden.

But how do you decorate your kitchen without compromising its functionality? You will want to avoid decorating surfaces that you use for food preparation. Instead, concentrate your fall décor on the walls or on high open shelves that are used infrequently. In addition, you can swap out regularly used items (such as tea towels, napkins, place mats and salt and pepper shakers) with special fall versions that complement your décor.

Here are 10 easy ways to help make your kitchen warm and beautiful this fall :

1. Textiles. Table clothes, tea towels, and even your apron can help celebrate the season by bringing warm colours and harvest motifs into your kitchen.
2. Centerpieces. Unless you are having a party, keep centerpieces small, to minimize the amount of table or island space that they monopolize.
3. Garlands. Great for those with smaller kitchens, garlands look great in locations that would otherwise be completely unused, such as over the doorway, or on top of the pot rack or light fixture.
4. Signs or artwork. If you don’t have any room to spare in your kitchen for additional seasonal décor, switch out your usual artwork for something with a fall theme.
5. Place settings. Consider acquiring some plates in celebratory fall colours, or with a pretty fall theme, such as nuts or colourful leaves.
6. Glassware. Your fall place settings won’t be complete without matching fall glassware.
7. Candles. Nothing says warm and cozy like a nice fire. If you don’t have a wood stove in your kitchen, candles can be used to replicate that cozy feeling. As a bonus, they often have great fall smells, like pumpkin pie!
8. Flower arrangements. Certain flowers, such as sunflowers or mums, are a nice complement to fall décor.
9. Wreaths. Essentially a centre piece that hangs on the wall, this is another great option for those short on counter or table space.
10. Display produce. Instead of hiding fresh fall produce away in a cupboard or a drawer in the fridge, leave your apples, squash or other produce out in a nice bowl as a simple display or centerpiece.

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Popular choices of material for countertops today include stone (usually granite, although marble, soapstone and others are also used), solid surface (comprised of acrylic or polyester, engineered stone (a combination of quarts and acrylic), laminate, wood, ceramic tile and concrete.

If you are choosing new countertops for your kitchen, here are a few factors that you should take into consideration :

1. Appearance

Obviously you want your new countertops to look good and to complement the rest of your kitchen. It is important to balance the look that you want with other factors so that you are not disappointed with your choice of countertop materials.
For example, you may love the look of wood countertops, but not be keen on the maintenance that they require to prevent water damage. If you are not willing to provide the maintenance that your counters need, they won’t stay as beautiful as they are upon installation.

Fortunately, there are many countertop material options and it is often possible to find one that meets all of your needs plus provides you with the look that you want.

2. Durability

Most countertops will last for decades provided they are maintained properly. Granite, engineered stone and solid surface counters are the hardest surfaces and therefore the most indestructible. Other stone that can be used for countertops, such as marble or slate, is softer than granite and is more prone to staining or scratches.

Laminate and wood countertops are made of the softest materials and are the most prone to scratches and damage from hot objects.

3. Maintenance

Engineered stone, solid surface and laminate counters require the least amount of maintenance. Granite counters require less maintenance than other stone surfaces, but they may need to be resealed periodically to prevent staining.

Ceramic tiles may require extra care to prevent dirt from building up in the grout lines.

All other countertop surfaces require frequent sealing to prevent water damage, warping, staining, scratches or chips.

4. Cost

The cost of a new countertop can vary greatly depending on the type of material used, different finishes and cuts that are required. Granite counters range in price based on the popularity or scarcity of the particular granite.

Remember to consider the cost of installation as well, as it will vary significantly for different countertops.

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